Mizoram: Biometric Enrolment for Myanmar Refugees Pending

AIZAWL: The Mizoram government has not yet initiated the process of biometric enrolment for more than 30,000 Myanmar refugees amidst the looming deadline set by the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to officials at the state's home department, a delay is being caused due to issues with a form provided by the MHA.

The form, intended for the biometric registration of illegal foreigners facing deportation, is not appropriate for collecting data on the Myanmar refugees as it was designed for a different category of individuals, a senior official explained.

The Mizoram government had earlier returned the forms provided by the MHA as they were not suitable for the refugee population. There has been no communication from the central government regarding a revised form since then.

This issue comes despite Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assurance to Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma that no Myanmar refugees would be deported until peace is fully restored in Myanmar.

While biometric data collection has not started, most of the refugees, including those who have returned to Myanmar, have already been profiled and their biographical details collected. Only a few refugees remain to be issued temporary identity cards.

As of December 18, 2024, the total number of refugees in Mizoram was at 32,794 as against over 34,000 earlier as several refugees returned to their country of origin following improvements in the security situation in Myanmar.

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